Absolutely Fantastic

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

WONDERFUL MOVIE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. I remember watching this movie on TV, when it originally aired on TV in 1979 when I was a little girl. It had such a great impact on me that I never forgot it years later as a grown woman. I had searched everywhere for this movie. I finally came across it at a public library. Our entire family have enjoyed this movie thoroughly. It is very accurate to history. The actors for the roles were superb. Mr.Gosset and Ms. Uggams and Cole were great. Enjoyed watching all these actors in Roots and enjoyed their performances just as much if not more in this movie. I used this as an educational movie for my children. Kids do not get a lot of US history in schools today like we used to get in the 70's. The only part of the movie that I recall has bad language is in the last disc, which depicts President Truman and as I understand was true to history. However, these few words are mild today compared to other movies with inappropriate language. By the way, did you know that the producer of this movie was also associated with the Little House on the Prairie TV series? Please make more movies like these.

This is such an EXCELLENT mini series... However I can not find it on Video DVD cassette or elsewhere, and have not seen it pop up on A&E True Stories or the History Channel.... If anyone knows where to find this PLEASE email me to the above address.

Spanning fifty years and eight administrations, -Backstairs at the White House- is the story of the servants, mainly Americans of African descent, who work behind the scenes in the most famous household in the land. The story centers around two maids, mother Maggie and daughter Lillian, who literally spend their lives cleaning, polishing, and mending for the ever-changing employers. Their stories, intermingled with those of the other permanent staff as well as the first family, run the gamut from warmth, high comedy, to deep tragedy, with surprising moments of humanity glimpsed even through those who are most aloof. Like -Roots-, this miniseries is a glimpse at a long span of Americana rarely shown and mostly forgotten, rendered with intelligence, warmth, dignity, and a sense of character that are all too rare on television these days. If you can't see the miniseries, get Bagni/Dubov tie-in novel. It is well worth it.

I thoroughly loved this miniseries because it takes you through so much of our nations time and presidents. I wish with all my heart this series would come out on video. I know my children would learn a lot about this nation and what these men accomplished and went through.